"Crying" is a song written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson for Orbison's third studio album of the same name (1962). Released in 1961, it was a number 2 hit in the US for Orbison and was covered in 1978 by Don McLean, whose version went to number 1 in the UK in 1980.
Quick Facts Single by Roy Orbison, from the album ...
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Dave Marsh calls the song a "rock-bolero" with "blaring strings, hammered tympani, a ghostly chorus, the gentle strum of a guitar, [and] a hint of marimba".[3] Billboard observes an "expressive reading" on the "country-flavored ballad."[4] The personnel on the original recording included Orbison session regulars Bob Moore on bass; Floyd Cramer on piano; Buddy Harman on drums; and Boudleaux Bryant, Harold Bradley,[5] and Scotty Moore[6] on guitar.
The song was released as a 45-rpm single by Monument Records in mid-July 1961[7] and reached No. 1 on the United States Cashbox chart for a week on October 7, 1961. On the rival Billboard Hot 100 it peaked at No. 2, where "Hit the Road Jack" by Ray Charles and his Orchestra kept it from No. 1.[8] Despite not reaching the summit in the latter publication, Billboard ranked the record as the No. 4 song of 1961.[9]
In 2002, "Crying" was honored with a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. In 2010, Rolling Stone ranked it 69th on their list of the "500 greatest songs of all time".[10]
More information Chart (1961), Peak position ...
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Quick Facts Single by Don McLean, from the album Chain Lightning ...
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Don McLean's recording of the song went to No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in early 1981.[16] His version of "Crying" also reached No. 2 adult contemporary and No. 6 Country. It fared even better in the UK, where it reached No. 1 in 1980, spending three weeks at the top of the UK Singles Chart.[17] "Crying" was taken from his 1978 album, Chain Lightning. It became his second biggest hit in America.
Charts
More information Chart (1980–1981), Peak position ...
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Year-end charts
Chart (1980) |
Rank |
Australia[25] |
119 |
Netherlands[26] |
5 |
South Africa[27] |
19 |
UK Singles Chart[28] |
15 |
Chart (1981) |
Rank |
Canada[29] |
49 |
US Billboard Hot 100[30] |
40 |
US Cash Box[31] |
52 |
|
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Sales and certifications
More information Region, Certification ...
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Quick Facts from the album King of Hearts and Hiding Out soundtrack, B-side ...
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Orbison rerecorded the song as a duet with Canadian singer-songwriter k.d. lang as part of the soundtrack to the motion picture Hiding Out and released it as a single in 1987. Their collaboration won the Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals. It reached No. 2 in Lang's native Canada, and No. 28 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and No. 42 on the Hot Country Singles chart in the US. In 1992, it reached the charts in the UK and Ireland, peaking at No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 9 on the Irish Singles Chart. It returned to the US Adult Contemporary chart in 1993, peaking at No. 40.
Charts
More information Chart (1988), Peak position ...
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Year-end charts
Chart (1988) |
Position |
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[48] |
45 |
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Release history
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- US presidential candidate Mitt Romney mentioned this song among his top 10 songs of all time in March 2012.[56]
- In 2011, "Crying" was featured in the American comedy-drama film 50/50.[57]
- "Crying" was featured in an episode of Only Fools and Horses. The episode "Stage Fright" featured Raquel and a guest character (Tony Angelino, played by Philip Pope) singing this song at a function. Angelino had a rhotacism, causing him to pronounce his Rs incorrectly.
- "Crying" was featured in The Walking Dead television series in season 7, episode 3, "The Cell". The song is played by Dwight for Daryl in his cell after he was given an image of Glenn Rhee's deceased body. This is done in an attempt to break Daryl's spirit so that he might switch to the Savior's.[citation needed]
Orbison, Roy Jr. (2017). The Authorized Roy Orbison. Orbison, Wesley,, Orbison, Alex,, Slate, Jeff (First ed.). New York: Center Street. ISBN 9781478976547. OCLC 1017566749. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–2002
Crying (UK 7-inch single vinyl disc). Roy Orbison, k.d. lang. Virgin Records. 1992. VUS 63, 7243 8 90012 73.{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) Crying (UK cassette single sleeve). Roy Orbison, k.d. lang. Virgin Records. 1992. VUSC 63, 7243 8 90012 42.{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) Crying (UK CD1 liner notes). Roy Orbison, k.d. lang. Virgin Records. 1992. VUSCD 63, 7243 8 90012 28.{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) Crying (UK CD2 liner notes). Roy Orbison, k.d. lang. Virgin Records. 1992. VUSCX 63, 7243 8 90025 22.{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 161.
Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 180. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. August 8, 1992. p. 19. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. August 15, 1992. p. 21.
Taubin, Amy (September–October 2001). "In Dreams", Film Comment, 37 (5), p. 51–55.